Brief:
This project started with a mailin' cardboard tube that be nay standard "rocket" size. I ended up havin' t' create me own balsa nose cone (accomplished in a rather amateur fashion on me electric drill). Aye aye! I also used up some old 10.5 mm body tubes. Avast! T' S.S. Begad! Gulliver uses 18 mm motors and features a mylar parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 11" mailin' Tube style Body Tube, just about t' diameter o' a BT-60
• balsa nose cone custom made t' fit mailin' tube (Big Bertha style)
• balsa for fins
• motor mount system consistin' o' BT-20, BT20-60 centerin' ring, engine block
• cardboard for shroud
• 10.5 mm body tubes, me bucko, 3 quantity, cut t' 3.75"
• 3 electrical wire nuts, 10.5 mm in diameter
• shock cord material
• Keelhaul®©™®
• mylar parachute
• screw eye and BB's for nose weight
• rocket sketch

T' trick t' this rocket is gettin' t' motor mount t' sit correctly in the body tube with about 4cm o' t' motor mount projectin' out t' back o' the rocket. Arrr! Begad! Before gluin' this in, me bucko, I test fit it with a shroud that fit snugly with the body tube t' t' motor mount, arrr, approximately 4 cm in length. Ahoy! I also made sure I tied t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' centerin' rin' before gluin' t' assembly into t' body tube.

Next, shiver me timbers, I cut t' 3 fins usin' a hand drawn template. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' fins fit flush with the bottom o' t' rocket and thus need t' be against both t' shroud and body tube. T' three small body tubes are then glued t' t' fin tip o' each fin. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I epoxied t' wire nuts on t' t' top o' each 10.5mm tube. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I also stuffed the bottom o' each 10.5 mm tube with a mixture o' yellow glue and tissue paper to fill t' gaps that existed on either side o' t' fin.

I created me own nose cone usin' an electric drill and a sandin' block. Blimey! Begad! I drilled a hole in t' bottom o' t' nose cone t' add additional weight, me bucko, me bucko, in this case, some epoxy and BBs. Aye aye! I capped t' bottom o' t' nose cone with more epoxy and balsa and inserted a screw eye. Arrr! T' center o' gravity for an empty S.S. Gulliver should be 7.75" from t' bottom o' t' motor mount assembly.

I added an elastic shock cord and a mylar parachute that I had in me extra parts box.

Finishing:
I painted t' rocket silver and painted t' nose cones black. I printed the decals on 8.5" x 11" clear Avery label sheets. Ahoy! I designed t' decal images in Microsoft Word, me hearties, hence their cheesy, poor quality. After I added the decals, arrr, matey, I gave t' Gulliver a clear coat o' lacquer. Avast! [Note: the decals are available for download.]

Paintin' t' rocket was no big deal. T' difficulty be gettin' t' decals to adhere correctly t' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! I used a clear Avery label sheet because this is what I had. Avast, me proud beauty! It printed rather well, but I did nay seal t' inkjet ink before cuttin' t' decals free and addin' them t' t' rocket. Arrr! This meant that some o' t' ink began t' smudge. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Also, matey, with Avery labels, arrr, they really don't like t' have any extra paper visible beyond t' colored portion o' the "decal". Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Doin' so will reveal a kind o' grayish coat t' t' perimeter of each decal. I had t' cut t' decals as close t' t' edge as possible. Aye aye! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Hence, decals with straight lines look best while decals with rounded corners or circles can look a little awkward.

Flight:
I have flown this bird half a dozen times, all on either B6-4s or C6-5s. Begad! It is a very steady performer with nice flights. Begad! Arrr! T' altitude is respectable, me bucko, but it certainly will nay break any NARRRRR records. All o' me recoveries have been perfect except for me last flight in which t' mylar parachute ripped. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! It still came down smoothly and gracefully, although t' shroud line ripped into the side o' t' parachute so much that t' parachute needs t' be replaced.

Recovery:
This wide-neck bird is easy t' prep. Arrr! Ahoy! Plenty o' room for dog barf an parachute. No problems with parachute deployment either.

Summary:
This was a fun build for me. Arrr! Arrr! It was a first in many ways:

• First homemade nose cone

• First shroud that mated nicely t' body tube

• First attempt at creatin' decals

This was a positive experience, me hearties, and it is a nice flyer.